Automobile bumper



1 April 16, 1929.

c.oFFENHAusER' AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed Jan.-26, 1928 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

Patented A r. 16,1929.

cnnrsrornnn orrnnnnnsnit, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENIiSYLVAN-ilk;

Automates BUMPER.

Application filed January. as, 1928." semi No. 249574;

thebumper has its'rcontact portion formed by a'plurality of inflatedtubes-which are re-' tained within a central holder and 'end-hold- The holders were resilientlycarried by:

ers; aspring bar adaptedtto be attazcheditdthe' motor Vehicle.

My present-invention also employs aplurality' of inflatable tubes" forming-1, contact.

members,but the tubes are Ycarried in such a Y some 'dirlicullty' in removing and assembling manner that if one-"becomes "1Ilj11PGd it can be readily replaced by the operator of'the' motor'veh-icle, In the construction shown in my prior patent it was found that there Was the inflated tubes? 7 With the above in View my 1nvent1on1comprehe'nds a novel construction and arrange- V ment" of an automobile "bumper 'Whereim a chambered casing is adapted to receive a plura lity of inflated tubes, the casing being pro vided with a readily removable centrally dis posedclam-ping member; and also With're movable end caps;

Other'no'vel: advantage Wlll hereinafter more 7 clearly: a'ps pear in the detaileddescriptionfandfthe apu p n impact =men'ibers and 41* The clamping pended claims. I 7

For'tlre purpose of illustrating' the inventiong' I have shown in the" accom 'ia tryin'g drawings a typical embodiment otit; which;

in practice, will give reliableand satisfactory results. It is ,hoiv ever, to be understood that this enibbdim'ent 'is tY'piCalon-IY and 'tliat the various'instrumentalitiesof which my invention consists can'be variously arranged and organized, and that the invention is not 1im ited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth. v Y V Figure 1 is a top plan view of an automobile bumper embodying my invention.

I Figure 2 is a sectionalplan View of the central portion of the bumper.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2,011 an enlarged scale. 1

F'gure 4 represents a rear elevation of the centralclamping member.

Figure 5 is a sectional View of the end portion of the bumper.

features of construction and Figure 6 is a section on line ti fi of F ig, ,urebn 'Figure-7is a detail oi -the clampingmechm nism; Similar numeralsiof reference indicate corresponding :p'aa-rts. I F

Referring tothedrawin'gs The casing 1 ofthe bumper'is 'formed from a stamping and iS"SOmiCiIC11'laI'-1I1 cross section' as indicated at 2. The bumper casing is also curved from a central portion 1 towards each endn 3' and 4 design-ate inflatable tubes; I each of which is provided with'its respective air valve' '5' which passes'through an aperture; in the casing 11 The casing at-each end} is curvedoutwardly as at'6 and'adapted to receive-a curved endcapr7 havingthe ems which overlap the end portion 6 and are so:

cured thereto bymeans of removable fastening devices 9,"such as forexamplescrews; as

best seen in Figures and 16; I I p Theinner ends-'of th'e inflated members '3 and 4 aresecured in position byvmeans of the clamping member-10 which isreadilyrdetach v I able and' wh ich"is'provi'ded With the curved sides 11 which are off-set as 12 in order to overhang the'j .uxta posed portion of the 'casing 1, as Will be understoodby refereneeito Figm ures'l and4z The front face-of the clamping member 10 is curved as at'13, see Figure 1,111 order"te* blend With the curvatures of the inflatable" member 10 1 has preferably rigid; with it a i one or bothofthe tubes can be readily removed when the central clamping memberlG- .is removed.

The bumper casing 1 has secured. to it the ends of the springs 18 by means of fastening devices 19 of any desired character, and these springs 18 are securedin any desired or con 'ventional manner to the springs or chassis 20 of theautomobi'le.

p The inflatable tubes 3 and 4 Which form r the impact portions ofthe bumper may be re i'ni'orced in any desired manner and they may be formed in straight sections or curved sec tions to fit the contour of the casing 1.

The inner face of impact member 3 or 4; may, if desired, be provided with a layer of non-vulcanizing material so that the impact member will be self healing if punctured. It

. will be seen that I employ a plurality of bowed inflatable impact members which are carried by the casing 1 which is formed from a steel stamping and has inherent in it a certain amount oi resiliency to absorb and compensate for the shocks to whiehit is subjected.

The shocks and stresses are also taken up and absorbed by the springs 18 which form a resilient mounting for the casing.

The casing and the inflated contact members each form an arch construction so that in the majority of cases when the bumper contacts with an object the shocks and stresses 7 are absorbed by both of the inflated members,

their casing and its resilient support.

In case one ofthe impact members becomesinjured it can readily be replaced by removing the central clampnigmember and an end cap 7 and inserting anew impact member in place and reassembling the central clamp 10.

It will be apparent that the central clamp 10 can be removed by releasing the nut 16,

while I have, in the present instance, shown and descr1beda preferred embodnnet thereof which'willgive in practice satisfactory and reliable results, itis to be understood that this embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention or sacrificing anyof its advantages r Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1y semi-circular in cross section, and of arch formation longitudinally on opposite sides of its central portion, a pair of inflatable impact members seated in said casing, end caps to secure the outer ends of said members to said casing,-and a detachable centrally disposed clamping member adjustably carried by said casing to secure the inner ends of said members with respect to said casing.

52. An automobile bumper comprising easing having an arch formation longitudinally on opposite sides ofits center and having a curved'contour in crosssectien, end caps detachably connected at the ends of said casing, inflatable tubes having theirouter ends within said end caps and juxtaposed portions of the casing, a central clamping member adapted to overhang the casing and embrace the juxtaposed inner ends of said tubes, springs secured to said casing, and adapted to be connected to suitable portions ofan automobile.

3. An automobile bumper comprising a casing recessed on its front face, of arch formation longitudinally on opposite sides of its center and of a curved contour in cross section, with its outer ends curved inwardly, end caps detachably connected with said outer ends, a central clamping member of curved formation in cross section and having portions adapted to overhang said casing, said clamping member being provided with a threaded stud adapted to pass through said casing, a nut having. a threaded sleeve engaging said stud for causing said clamping member to be adjustably connected with said casing, and resilientimpact members detachably secured "in position by said end caps and said clamping member, which latter o'ver hangs juxtaposed inner ends of said impact members. a

" cnrusrornna' orrENHjAUsER. 

